Universal SMDR buffer

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a highly flexible system that can receive SMDR messages in many different formats and process these messages to produce useful reports and control information. The system can collect data via a LAN/WAN connection from PBX systems with internal data storage, PBX systems without internal data storage and legacy PBX systems that are connected to a buffer for storage of SMDR records.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a non-provisional application of provisionalapplication Ser. No. 60/636,505 that was filed Dec. 15, 2004. Priorityof application 60/636,505 is hereby claimed and the entire content ofapplication 60/636,505 is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to telephone systems and more particularlyto systems and methods for handling Station Message Detail Recordings(SMDRs).

BACKGROUND

A Private Branch Exchange (usually abbreviated PBX) is a telephoneswitch that serves a selected group of users and that usually providesaccess to the public switched network. Many early PBX systems provided arecord of the calls that originated in the PBX or that where received bythe PBX by printing this information concerning such calls on a papertape. The information about calls made and received by the PBX wherecalled Station Message Detail Recordings. The name Station MessageDetail Recording is generally abbreviated SMDR and such records areoften referred to as SMDR messages.

Modern PBX systems are generally electronic computerized systems thatcan provide wide array of services. With the advent of Voice overInternet Protocol (VoIP) technology, modern PBX systems allow voice tobe routed as data packets over the Internet or over private networks.

For a variety of reasons, modern PBX systems, including VoIP systems,produce SMDR messages. Today, there are many different types of PBXsystems that produce SMDR messages and furthermore some PBX systemsproduce the SMDR messages in accordance with proprietary and differentprotocols.

There is a need for a universal system for recording interpreting andproviding access to SMDR messages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a highly flexible system that can receiveSMDR messages in many different formats and process these messages toproduce useful reports and control information.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is an overall system diagram of a preferred embodiment.

FIG. 2 illustrates the various inputs and outputs received by thesystem.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the main program.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating operation on the Telnet threads.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating the main timer loop and the alarmthread.

FIG. 6 is a block diagrams illustrating the FTP upload thread

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating the ODBC data Transfer Thread andthe File Transfer Thread.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating RSP transfer thread and theserial transfer thread.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Several preferred embodiments of the present invention will now bedescribed with reference to the accompanying drawings. Those skilled inthe art will recognize that various other embodiments of the inventionare also possible and practical. This invention may be embodied in manydifferent forms and the invention should not be construed as beinglimited to the embodiments set forth herein.

The figures listed above illustrate a preferred embodiment of theinvention and the operation of such an embodiment. In the figures, thesize of the boxes is not intended to represent the size of the variousphysical components. Where the same element appears in multiple figures,the same reference numeral is used to denote the element in all of thefigures where it appears.

Only those parts of the various units are shown and described which arenecessary to convey an understanding of the embodiment to those skilledin the art. Those parts and elements not shown are conventional andknown in the art.

FIG. 1 is an overall diagram of a first embodiment of the invention. Thesystem shown in FIG. 1 includes three PBXs 101, 105 and 106. PBX 101 isa legacy PBX, PBX 105 is an Internet Protocol (IP) PBX that includes adata base 105DB that stores SMDR records, and PBX 106 is an IP PBX thatdoes not include an internal data base for storage of SMDR records.

A PC/Server 102 is connected to the legacy PBX 101 by a conventionalRS-232 connection. The PC 102 includes a software buffer applicationthat retrieves and stores SMDR records. The PC 102 can also connect tothe web hosted application service provider (ASP) 104. An example of asoftware buffer application and of a web hosted application serviceprovider is provided below.

The IP PBXs 105 and 106 are connected to the Ethernet LAN/WAN 109. A PC108 that includes a program 108P is also connected to the EthernetLAN/WAN 109. The operation of program 108P will be explained withreference to FIGS. 3 to 8.

The three PBXs 101, 105 and 106 shown in FIG. 1 represent a particularcombination of different types of PBXs. It should be noted thatalternate embodiments include many different combinations of PBXs. Someembodiments include more that one PBX of each type. Some embodiments donot include all of the different types of PBXs. The combination shown inFIG. 1 is merely one specific embodiment that illustrates a combinationof different types of PBXs in a single system.

For example, legacy PBX 101 could be a Nortel Meridian1, Option 11 PBXthat has been a popular business PBX for twenty years. It is noted inthe literature for the Nortel meridian PBX, SMDR records are referred toas Call Detail Records (abbreviated CDR records). The terms SMDR and CDRas used herein are synonymous.

The IP PBX 105 could for example be a Nortel BCM50 PBX. The Nortel BCM50PBX can write CDR (i.e. SMDR) records to a pre-determined shared harddrive that is connected to a LAN. The system shown in FIG. 1 reads fromsuch a shared hard drive in a conventional manner.

The IP PBX 106 could for example also be a Nortel BCM50 PBX, where theshared drive that stores data is in the PC 108.

The PC 102 could for example be a Microsoft Windows 2000 Server or aMicrosoft Windows 2003 Server hosting a software buffer such as thatmarketed by AtComm Corporation of San Mateo, Calif. Alternatively PC 102could be connected to a hardware buffer such as the buffer marketed byAtComm Corporation, under the name “Xiox Solutions Intelligent Buffer”.That is, either a hardware or a software buffer could be used to collectSMDR records from PBX 101 via a RS 123 protocol and to deliver theserecords to an application running on PC 102. It is noted that the buffermay be connected directly to the PC 102, it may be a part of PC 102 orit may be remotely accessed by the PC 102. The PC 102 can send SMDRrecords to ASP 104 via FTP or it can send SMDR records to program 108 inPC 108 via a TCP/IP protocol.

The Internet web Hosted ASP service 104 could for example be callaccounting and productivity reporting service marketed by AtCommCorporation under the trademark CommView. The CommView ASP is a onehundred percent web-based host subscription service that providesbusiness and IT managers with PBX call usage analysis reports.

The combination of the legacy PBX 101, the PC/Server hosting softwarehosting software buffer application and the Internet web hosted ASPservice 104 forms a prior art type of SMDR analysis and reportingsystem. With the present invention a prior art reporting system (whichmay for example include units 101, 102 and 104) can be integrated into auniversal type of system that is provided by the present invention.

With the present invention each of the units 105, 106 and 102 areconnected to the Ethernet LAN/WAN 109. LAN/WAN 109 is in turn connectedto the personal computer 108. Personal computer 108 can for example be aconventional personal computer operating under the Microsoft Windowsoperating system. The conventional parts of PC 108 are not shown ordescribed herein. The part of PC 108 of particular relevance to thepresent invention is the program 108P that runs on PC 108. Program 108Pis described later with reference to FIGS. 3 to 8.

As explained below, PC 108 can receive data on LAN/WAN 109 using avariety of protocols. For example, the data may be transmitted using aFile Transfer Protocol (FTP) or using an Open DataBase ConnectivityProtocol (ODBC). ODBC is a standard database access protocol.

FIG. 2 illustrated the various inputs and outputs of the program 108P.As is conventional, the program 108P has a central scheduler andcontroller 206 that controls the various operations that are performed.

As indicated by block 205, there is a conventional user set up andconfiguration facility or program that identifies the source anddestination of information and the various operations that need beperformed.

As indicated by block 201, data is collected from the data base 105DB ona specified schedule. This could for example be an hourly or a dailyoccurrence depending on the amount of traffic and the size of thedatabase.

As indicated by block 202, the program can respond to real time eventsthat are provided via a RS-232 or TCP/IP steam oriented data input. Itis noted that in the system shown in FIG. 1, there is not direct RS-232input to the PC 108; however, alternate embodiments have such aninterface. As indicated by block 203, the scheduler can respond torequests received from program 108P for buffered data.

As indicated by blocks 204, 207 and 208 the scheduler and control 206causes data to be provided under various situations. Block 204 indicatesthat data can be pushed to an FTP server (not shown in FIG. 1) on aschedule specified by the operator. As indicated by block 208, thesystem can initiate e-mail alarm notifications based on timed lack ofdata received from a particular PBX. As indicated by block 207, thesystem can present real time feed back to the user on screen concerningrecent SMDR messages.

FIG. 3 to 8 illustrate the operations performed by the program 108P.

FIG. 3 shows what occurs when the program starts. As indicated by blocks301, 302, and 303, a check is made to determine if the system waspreviously configured, a conventional window is presented that allowsthe user or administrator to configure the system.

First as indicated by block 304, a check is made to determine if thereis a telnet input. If there is, blocks 305 and 306 indicate that alisten thread begins. The operation of this thread is shown in FIG. 4.

As indicated by blocks, 307, 308, 309, and 310 the existence of varioustypes of TCP/IP is checked. If one of the three types of ODBC inputsbegins, block 312 begins the transfer thread. The ODBC transfer threadis shown in FIG. 7.

Similarly block 313, 314 and 315 indicate if various other types ofinput threads exist. There are two possible FTP trades that can beinitiated by bold 313. Block 314 related to an RSP Avaya IP Protocol andblock 315 relates to a serial transfer thread. The details of theseother threads are shown in FIGS. 7 and 8.

As indicated by blocks 311 and 316, sockets are opened to collect dataas appropriate in a conventional manner and as indicated by block 316 atime loop is started. The details of this lop is shown in FIG. 5.

Blocks 317, 318, 319 and 320 relate to a conventional process todetermine if there is a quit request, determine if it is allowed, exitthe various threads and finally exit the program as indicated by block321.

The details of how the Telnet thread is handled are shown in FIG. 4. Asindicated by block 401 and 402, a listen socket is opened in aconventional manner and a listen loop is started. Block 404 indicates ifa connection exists. If it does exist, the thread is started anindicated by block 403. As indicated by blocks 405 and 408, a check ismade for a password. The data is partitioned in a conventional manner asindicated by block 410 and the connection is disconnected and terminatedas indicated by block 412 and 414.

Block 407 and 411 determine if the listen thread should be terminated asindicated by block 413 or, if as indicated by block 411, the loop shownend and go back to block 402.

FIG. 5 shows the details of the main timer loop and of the alarm thread.The main timer has a loop between block 501 and 509. As indicated byblock 502, this loop sets the timer event for other threads As indicatedby blocks 503, 504, and 505, a check is made for FTP output and todetermine if the FTP timer has expired. The FTP thread, shown in FIG. 6,is initiated as indicated by block 505.

If data is received, the timer alarm is reset as indicated by block 506and 507. If data is not received as determined by block 507, the alarmtimer is incremented as indicated by block 508 and a check is made todetermine if the alarm has expired as indicated by block 510. The alarmthread (which is also shown in FIG. 5 is initiated as indicated by block511.

The alarm thread shown in FIG. 5, gets the SMTP parameters in aconventional manner as indicated by block 521 and a message isformulated as indicated by block 522. An alarm message is sent via SMTP(in a conventional manner) as indicated by block 523 and the alarmthread is terminated as indicated by block 524.

The details of the FTP upload thread are shown in FIG. 6. A secure or aregular FTP session is established as indicated by blocks 601, 602 and603. The type of session is established at setup time in a conventionalmanner. The data file is placed on the FTP server as indicated by blocks604 and 605. If the session is successful, it is closed as indicated byblocks 606 and 608. If it is not successful, the session is closed andpossibly retried as indicated by blocks 607 and 609. Finally the sessionis terminated as shown by block 610.

The ODBC data transfer thread and the File Transfer thread are shown inFIG. 7. The ODBC transfer thread first sets the data transfer intervalas indicated by block 701. The loop from blocks 702 to 707 then handlesthe transfer. When the interval has expired as indicated by block 703,the last data record is retrieved as indicated by block 704. Asindicated by blocks 706, 708 and 709, the data base connection is openedand the new records are requested. This is done in a conventionalmanner. The records are transported and formatted as indicated by block706 and the data is stored as indicated by block 709. A determination ismade as to whether or not the event should be terminated as indicated byblock 705 and the ODBC thread is terminated as indicated by block 710 ifappropriated.

The file transfer thread has a loop as indicated between block 722 and727. The interval is set as indicated by block 721 and a check to see ifthe interval has expired is performed as indicated by block 723. Thesource is queried for new files and the files are transported and storedas indicated by block 724 and 725. A check is made to see if the loopshould be terminated as indicated by block 726 and if appropriate thethread is terminated as indicated by block 728.

FIG. 8 shows a flow diagram of the RSP transfer thread and of the serialtransfer thread. The RSP transfer thread has a loop between blocks 801and 808. The loop is terminated when a quit event occurs as indicated byblocks 802 and 803. When a data event occurs, the file access isacquired and the file is copied as indicated by block 805. The RSP datais deleted on a successful copy as indicated by blocks 806 and 807.

The serial transfer thread includes a loop between blocks 822 and 829.After the serial port is opened as indicated by block 821, the data isreceived as indicated by block 823. A timer check is made as indicatedby blocks 824 and 825. The data is copied to a flat file as indicated byblock 826. The event ends and the port is closed as indicated by block827 and 828. The serial thread is terminated as indicated by block 830.

The flow diagrams in FIGS. 3 to 8 indicated how data is acquired fromvarious units in the system using a wide variety of protocols. Data canbe acquired from various different types of units.

The actual analysis of the data and the manner that reports aregenerated can be conventional. For example the data analysis andreporting can be similar to that performed by the commercialityavailable data analysis product marketed by AtComm Corporation.

It is noted that the particular embodiment shown here is merelyexemplary of the various embodiment, which are possible with the presentinvention.

It is also noted that as used herein, the terms SMDR records, SMDRmessages, synonymously to mean the same thing. Namely, these terms referto information records or messages produced by a PBX to provideinformation concerning calls handled by the PBX. Likewise as used hereinthe terms SMDR records and SMDR messages include messages and recordssometimes referred to as Call Detail Records or CDR records and by othersimilar terms that refer to information records or messages produced bya PBX to provide information concerning calls handled by the PBX.

That is, while the invention has been shown and described with respectto preferred embodiments thereof, it should be understood that a widevariety of other embodiments are possible without departing from thescope and sprit of the invention. The scope of the invention is onlylimited by the appended claims.

1) A system for gathering and analyzing Station Message Detail Records(SMDR records) from a plurality PBX systems selected from the groupconsisting of legacy PBX systems, PBX systems with internal data storageand PBX systems without internal data storage, said system comprising incombination, a buffer for storage of SMDR records connected to saidlegacy PBX, a wide bandwidth LAN/VAN, said LAN/WAN being connection toat least some of said PBX systems and to said buffer storage, a computerconnected to said LAN/WAN, said computer including a program forobtaining SMDR records from any PBX in said plurality of PBX systems,and a program for analyzing SMDR records that are collected. 2) Thesystem recited in claim 1 wherein said buffer for storage of SMDRrecords is connected to said computer by a serial RS-232 connection. 3)The system recited in claim 1 wherein said LAN/WAN is an Ethernetconnection. 4) The system recited in claim 1 wherein said PBXs transmitdata to said computer utilizing TCP/IP protocol. 5) The system recitedin claim 1 wherein said legacy PBX transmits data to said buffer via anRS-232 connection. 6) The system recited in claim 1 wherein data on atleast some of said PBX systems is transmitted to said computer utilizingOpen DataBase Connectivity Protocol (ODBC). 7) The system recited inclaim 1 wherein at least some of said PBX systems transmit data to saidcomputer utilizing File Transfer (FTP) protocols. 8) The system recitedin claim 1 wherein said computer retrieves data from a data base storedin at least one of said PBXs. 9) The system recited in claim 1 whereinat least one of said PBX system initiate a transfer of data to saidcomputer. 10) The system recited in claim 1 wherein said computer is apersonal computer (PC). 11) The systems recited in claim 11 wherein saidpersonal computer operates under a windows operating system. 12) Auniversal system for gathering and analyzing Station Message DetailRecords (SMDR records) from a plurality PBX systems selected from thegroup consisting of legacy PBX systems, PBX systems with internal datastorage and PBX systems without internal data storage, said systemcomprising in combination, a wide bandwidth LAN/WAN, said LAN/WAN beingconnection to some of said PBX systems, and a computer connected to saidLAN/WAN, said computer including a program for obtaining SMDR recordsfrom any PBX in said group of PBX systems, and a program for analyzingSMDR records that are collected. 13) The system recited in claim 12 abuffer for storage of SMDR records connected to a legacy PBX by a serialRS-232 connection and a LAN/WAN connecting said buffer to said computer.14) The system recited in claim 12 wherein said LAN/WAN is an Ethernetconnection. 15) The system recited in claim 12 wherein said PBXstransmit data to said computer utilizing TCP/IP protocol. 16) The systemrecited in claim 12 wherein said buffer is connected to an applicationservice provider (ASP) for analyzing SMDR records stored in said buffer.17) The system recited in claim 12 wherein data on at least some of saidPBX systems is stored for access by the Open DataBase ConnectivityProtocol (ODBC) whereby said computer can access data on at least someof said PBX systems by ODBC. 18) The system recited in claim 12 whereinat least some of said PBX systems transmit data to said computerutilizing File Transfer (FTP) protocols. 19) The system recited in claim12 wherein at least one of said PBX system initiate a transfer of datato said computer. 20) A system for gathering and analyzing StationMessage Detail Records (SMDR records) from a plurality PBX systemsselected from the group consisting of PBX systems with internal datastorage, PBX systems without internal data storage and legacy PBXsystems that are connected to a buffer for storage of SMDR records, saidsystem comprising in combination, a wide bandwidth LAN/WAN, said LAN/VANconnected to some of said PBX systems and to said buffer storage, meansconnected to said LAN/WAN for obtaining SMDR records from any PBX insaid plurality of PBX systems and for analyzing SMDR records that arecollected.